Source says several support staff were absent from work Monday at the Stan Sheriff Center ahead of weekend volleyball matches.

About 40 workers within the Athletics Department at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus have been forced to forgo overtime compensation after a memorandum of agreement with the state’s largest public worker union expired June 30.

The workers involved in the labor dispute include trainers, facility workers and ticket clerks represented by bargaining Unit 8 of the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Under the now expired MOA, affected workers were entitled to “compensatory time off” in lieu of overtime. Workers were also divided into three groups: those that had worked more than 300 overtime hours, those that had150 to 300 overtime hours and those that accumulated 100 to 150 overtime hours. Depending how an employee was categorized and what payout option he or she chose, workers were entitled to a minimum of four months stipend and a maximum of nine months, in addition to time off. The monthly stipends averaged $325, according to a copy of the document provided by the university.

It’s not known how long the affected workers have been forced to adhere to a strict 40-hour work week since the MOA expired, but the union issued a short statement Tuesday saying talks with the university are ongoing.

“HGEA is currently in negotiations with the employer and we are working to resolve this issue quickly,” read the statement.

In an interview with KITV4, UH Athletics Director Ben Jay said he’s been personally involved in talks between the university and the union, but declined to characterize the progress of those negotiations.

“I'm involved in the discussions,” said Jay. “Obviously, it affects our staff and I care a great deal about what happens to our staff and their well-being.”

According to a source within the athletics department, several support staff were absent from work Monday at the Stan Sheriff Center, since women’s volleyball matches this weekend will require them to accrue overtime. Jay would not confirm or deny the workers’ absence, but said the overtime issue is not impacting sports facilities or the services provided to UH teams by union members.

“Were asking the support staff to make adjustments in their schedule to fit (what’s required), and make sure that they're covering the needs of our student athletes,” said Jay.

Overtime compensation is just one of several issues keeping UH Athletics in the red over the past decade. However in May, the university’s Board of Regents voted to move $13 million in accumulated debt from the athletics department to the Manoa chancellor's office, while Jay set a goal of making the department self-sustaining by the end of fiscal year 2014 next June.

As he enters his first fall season as the head of the athletics department, Jay says putting a competitive product on the field or hard court is still the best way to get UH sports out of debt. Jay said fans should see a much improved football team Thursday evening when the Warriors take on USC at Aloha Stadium.

"I think they will definitely see a different football team, and they will see a team that will really fight hard on the field all the way until the end of the game," he said.

department accuse the school of being a BAD SPORT... especially when it comes to paying overtime! Workers represented by the state's largest union say they're being DENIED OT, and that COULD be placing a strain on UH sports. KITV4's Andrew Pereira joins us with new information. So Andrew... why the dust-up? Paula, Yunji... certain UH workers are being denied overtime as the university negotiates how those extra hours are calculated. In college sports, fans love overtime. But for administrative, professional and technical staff supporting UH Athletics, working OT won't score you ANY extra pay. They don't like that. BEN JAY: "IT'S NOT REALLY A DUSTUP. I MEAN THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WITH THE UNION EXPIRED, AND WE'RE WORKING ON A NEW ONE RIGHT NOW." The agreement that expired June 30 states how overtime is calculated for HGEA Unit 8 members within UH Athletics. That includes trainers, facility workers and ticket clerks... a total of about 40 positions at the Manoa campus. In a statement to KITV4, the union said "HGEA is currently in negotiations with the employer and we are working to resolve this issue quickly." UH Athletics Director Ben Jay has been personally involved in the ongoing talks. BEN JAY: "I'M INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSIONS, OBVIOUSLY IT AFFECTS OUR STAFF AND I CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR STAFF AND THEIR WELL-BEING." ANDREW PEREIRA: "AS THE UH FOOTBALL AND WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAMS PREPARE FOR THEIR SEASON OPENERS THIS WEEK, JAY SAYS THE DUSTUP WITH THE UNION WON'T CAUSE ANY DISRUPTION TO ATHLETIC FACILITIES HERE AT UH, OR THE SERVICES PERFORMED BY UNION MEMBERS." BEN JAY: "WERE ASKING THE SUPPORT STAFF TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR SCHEDULE TO FIT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COVERING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES." Overtime is one of several issues keeping UH Athletics in the red. In May, the Board of Regents voted to move $13 million dollars in accumulated debt from the athletics department to the Manoa chancellor's office. Jay says putting a competitive product on the field or hard court is still the best way to get back in black, and it starts Thursday with UH football. BEN JAY: "I THINK THEY WILL DEFINITELY SEE A DIFFERENT FOOTBALL TEAM, AND THEY WILL SEE A TEAM THAT WILL REALLY FIGHT HARD ON THE FIELD ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END OF THE GAME." It's not known how long the overtime dispute could last. However, it is causing tension, with some UH Athletics workers calling it extremely frustrating. Back to you.

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